But as Eishi walked through the hallowed, marble-floored halls of the academy for the last time, he didn't look like a defeated man.
His mind was already firing, a cold machine processing data. If he was going to be expelled from Totsuki, he needed more than just his own obsessive talent.
He needed a diverse arsenal—a palette of skills so vast and contradictory that nobody could ever predict his movements.
"System," Eishi whispered, his voice echoing in the empty hallway. "Open the Sign-In function."
[Sign-In System Active.]
[Condition: Formal farewell or physical contact with significant characters.]
His first stop was the French Cuisine wing. The air here usually smelled of clarified butter and mirepoix, but today it felt heavy.
In the office of Roland Chapelle. The "Chef Who Never Smiles" was packing a small crate of vintage wines. He looked up as Eishi entered, his stern gaze softening just a fraction.
"Tsukasa-kun. A tragedy, what has transpired. You were the finest sword this academy ever forged."
Eishi bowed, his fingers brushing the cold mahogany of Chapelle's desk. "I am simply moving to a different kitchen, Chef."
He offered a firm, calloused handshake. As their palms met, the System chimed with a golden resonance.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: French Cuisine Mastery (Master)]
Eishi felt the weight of centuries settle into his mind—the precise reduction of a demi-glace, the structural integrity of a soufflé, the ancient secrets of the Mother Sauces.
A flood of classical techniques—sauce reductions, precise juliennes, the very soul of the Escoffier era—burned into Eishi's mind.
It was more than knowledge; it was muscle memory.It was no longer something he had to practice; it was part of his cellular memory.
"The world stage is still waiting, Chef," Eishi replied, his gaze sharp. "I'm just changing the entrance I use."
Eishi moved toward the Shiomi Seminar buildings. The air here was thick with the scent of toasted cumin and star anise. Shiomi Jun was frantic, tripping over stacks of papers, while Akira Hayama stood by the window, looking broodingly over the gardens.
"Eishi? You're actually leaving?" Jun cried, grabbing his sleeve to steady herself.
[Ding! Contact with Shiomi Jun established.]
[Sign-In Reward: Spice Proficiency (Master-rank) acquired.]
"The Council is a mess without you," Akira Hayama added, turning to shake Eishi's hand. He intended it as a farewell between rivals, but for Eishi, it was a harvest.
[Ding! Contact with Akira Hayama established.]
[Sign-In Reward: Sense of Smell (Divine-rank) acquired.]
The world exploded. The smell of the room—previously just "spices"—fragmented into a billion distinct threads. He could smell the oxidation level of the tea in Jun's cup; he could smell the exact mineral content of the soil on Akira's boots.
"Your potential was always wasted on 'purity', Eishi-Senpai," Akira muttered.
"Perhaps," Eishi replied, his pupils dilating as he processed the sensory overload. "But I'm learning to appreciate the grit."
In the clubroom of Italian research society, the Aldini brothers were arguing over a luggage cart. Takumi turned, his blue eyes flashing.
"Tsukasa-Senpai! I didn't get my rematch!"
"One day, Takumi," Eishi said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. He then turned to Isami, patting his back.
[Sign-In Reward: Italian Cuisine (Advanced-rank) acquired.]
[Sign-In Reward: Body Control (Advanced-rank) acquired.]
As he walked away, his gait changed. Isami's secret to his seasonal weight fluctuations—an incredible mastery over his own metabolism and muscle tension—flowed into Eishi. He felt lighter, his center of gravity shifting with predatory ease.
Next, he navigated to the Central Administration office. He found Eizan Etsuya leaning back in a leather chair, surrounded by stacks of yen and legal documents. The Alchemist of Cooking didn't even look up as Eishi entered.
"Kicked out by the very guy you helped put in power? You're a loser, Eishi-Senpai," Eizan sneered, though there was a hint of calculation in his eyes.
"But hey, the world needs losers who can cook. If you ever need a job in the black market—laundering ingredients or fixing prices—give me a call. I'll only take a 40% cut."
Eishi reached across the desk and tapped Eizan's shoulder.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Business Management Mastery (Advanced)]
Suddenly, the flow of capital, the manipulation of supply chains, and the psychological warfare of the market became as clear to Eishi as a recipe for consommé. He smiled. "I think I'll be the one doing the hiring, Eizan."
Eishi moved toward the training halls, seeking the "Promising Jewels" of the next generation. He found Terunori Kuga in the Sichuan wing, surrounded by the scent of capsaicin and fermenting broad beans.
"Hey! White Knight!" Kuga shouted, jumping down from a stool. "I heard the news! Does this mean I'm the First Seat now? Because if I am, I'm making Mapo Tofu the mandatory breakfast!"
Eishi didn't let the boy's energy grate on him. Instead, he grabbed Kuga's hand in a brief, firm grip. "The seat is yours if you can keep it, Kuga."
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Sichuan Cooking Mastery (Advanced)]
The heat, the mala (numbing-spicy) sensation, and the mastery of the wok exploded in Eishi's mind. He could now balance fire with flavor in a way that would make a dragon weep.
In the herb gardens, Isshiki Satoshi was tending to his cabbage patch. His usual jovial mask was slightly cracked, the "carefree" senpai replaced by a man who looked like he was preparing for a long winter.
"Leaving us so soon, Eishi-Senpai? The soil will miss your footsteps," Isshiki said, handing Eishi a basket of fresh, earth-covered greens.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Farming Mastery (Master)]
A deep, primal understanding of the earth, the nitrogen cycle, the stress-signals of plants, and the peak harvest windows for every vegetable on the planet took root in Eishi's soul. He wasn't just a chef anymore; he was a provider.
Next came the Polar Star residents.
Zenji Marui looked pale, clutching a massive tome. "I... I wrote a thesis on your cooking style, Tsukasa-senpai."
Eishi took the book, then handed it back.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: 1,000 Classic Recipes (Digital Download to Brain)]
Ibusaki Shun nodded through a haze of hickory smoke. "Keep the fire burning."
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Ingredients smoking proficiency]
Yuki Yoshino lunged for a tearful hug, her energetic nature undimmed.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Wild Game Cooking Mastery]
Ryoko Sakaki offered a parting gift of her family's private sake.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Fermentation Mastery]
The complex biology of yeast and the primal instincts of the hunt merged within him. Eishi was no longer just a chef; he was becoming an ecosystem.
Finally, he found Tadokoro Megumi in the kitchen, quietly cleaning her station. She looked up, her eyes wide. She searched in her bag and found something, "Tsukasa-senpai... please, take this." She handed him a small, handmade charm for safe travels.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Hosting Mastery (Omotenashi - Level: Divine)]
A wave of profound empathy washed over him. He suddenly understood the "heart" he had always lacked. He could see the needs of a guest before they even sat down. It was the ultimate weapon for a chef: the ability to manipulate the diner's very soul.
He even tracked down the outcasts. Ikumi Mito was stunned when the former First Seat complimented the "marbling and temperature control" of her meat handling.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Enhanced Sense of Touch (Advanced)]
The nerve endings in his fingertips screamed. He could feel the microscopic texture of her skin, the heat of her blood. This was the "Meat Master's" secret—feeling the marbling of beef through the hide.
He detoured through the shadows of the North Wing, where Nao Sadatsuka was boiling something that smelled like a swamp.
"Tsukasa-senpai... leaving the light?" she hissed.
"I'm finding the value in the dark, Nao," he said, brushing past her, his coat catching on her cauldron.
[Sign-In Reward: Stink Ingredients Proficiency (Advanced-rank) acquired.]
He didn't gag. Instead, his new sense of smell analyzed the rotting compounds, finding the hidden sweetness within the decay.
At the gates of the training hall, he met Miyoko Hojo. Her handshake was firm, a warrior's greeting.
[Sign-In Reward: Cantonese Cuisine (Advanced-rank) acquired.]
The heat of the wok, the "Wok Hei," settled into his palms. He felt the fire of the Dragon.
As the sun began to set, painting the Tōtsuki spires in blood-orange hues, Eishi reached the courtyard. Erina Nakiri stood there, her arms crossed, her "God Tongue" sensing the shift in the air long before he arrived.
"You're pathetic," she said, her voice wavering with a cocktail of confusion and ideological betrayal. "To lose to my father like that... to be cast out like a failed experiment. You've shamed the name of the Elite Ten."
Eishi stepped close, closer than anyone usually dared. He reached out and gently patted her shoulder, his eyes cold and focused. "Keep your tongue sharp, Erina. You're the only one left in this castle who knows what real food tastes like. Don't let him dull it."
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Enhanced Sense of Taste (Divine-rank)]
A sudden explosion of sensory data hit Eishi. He could taste the minerals in the air, the exact percentage of humidity on his tongue, the faint metallic tang of the courtyard gates.
It wasn't the full God Tongue, but it was real divine-rank skill, enough to elevate his palate into the realm of the divine.
Behind her, Hisako Arato bowed deeply, her loyalty to Erina never wavering, yet showing respect to the departing titan. "Safe travels, Tsukasa-sama."
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Medicinal Cooking Mastery (Advanced-Rank)]
Then, the atmosphere shifted. The wind died down. A shadow loomed over the courtyard entrance. Senzaemon Nakiri, the "Food Demon king," stood there in his traditional robes. He looked like a shogun presiding over a fallen province.
He didn't speak. He didn't need to. He placed a heavy, weathered hand on Eishi's head—a silent acknowledgment, a blessing from a deposed king to a newly minted rebel.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: 10% Ownership of Tōtsuki International (Untraceable)]
Eishi's breath hitched. That single touch had given him a seat at the table of the world's largest culinary conglomerate—a financial nuclear option he could trigger at any moment.
Before he could even process the windfall, a heavy, rhythmic footstep vibrated through the stone.
Dōjima Gin had arrived. The living legend of Tōtsuki, the man who held the record for the highest graduation score in history, looked at Eishi with eyes that had seen a thousand Shokugekis.
"Rindō told me what happened," Gin rumbled, his suit jacket straining against his massive, muscular frame. "The high command knows the truth, Eishi. Azami is playing a dangerous game, but you... you are a man of the 90th generation. Tell me, do you leave as a victim, or as a predator?"
Eishi reached out and shook Gin's hand. The strength was immense, like gripping a pillar of iron.
[Ding! Sign-In Successful.]
[Reward: Divine Physique (Divine-rank)]
[Warning: Reward status: DISABLED. Host physical stats insufficient. Condition: All Stats must reach 10]
"I leave as a chef, Dōjima-san," Eishi said, his voice steady. "But, it's not my end. I'll come back when the school needs me the most."
Finally, a gust of wind announced her arrival. Rindō Kobayashi skidded to a halt, her red hair a mess, her golden cat-eyes burning with a mixture of fury and heartbreak.
"You're really doing it? You're just leaving me here with these bores?" she shouted, stepping into his space. "Eishi, if you go, the Elite Ten is just a puppet show!"
Eishi leaned in, whispering into her ear so the others couldn't hear. "I'm not leaving the game, Rindō. I'm just changing the board. Watch the news. When you see something disturbing Azami's Gourmet society, that will be me."
He stepped away, leaving her stunned, a rare blush creeping up her cheeks.
As Eishi walked through the main gates, his suitcases trailing behind him, the System chimed a final summary of his "Farewell Tour."
French Cuisine, Master-rank (Roland Chapelle)
Spice proficiency, Master-rank (Shiomi Jun / Hayama)
Sense of Smell, Divine-rank (Akira Hayama)
Italian cuisine, Advanced-rank (Takumi Aldini)
Body control, Advanced-rank (Isami Aldini)
Enhanced sense of touch, Advanced-rank (Ikumi Mito)
Stink Ingredients proficiency, Advanced-rank (Nao Sadatsuka)
Cantonese Cuisine, Advanced-rank (Miyoko Hojo)
1000 Classic Recipies (Zenji Mauri)
Fermentation proficiency, Advanced-rank (Ryoko Sasaki)
Wild game cuisine proficiency, Advanced-rank (Yuki Yoshino)
Hosting proficiency (Omotenashi), Divine-rank (Megumi Tadokoro)
Sichuan Cuisine, Advanced-rank (Kuga Terunori)
Dough preparation, Master-rank (Kunokuni Nene)
Farming proficiency, Master-rank (Satoshi Isshiki)
Business/Market management, Advanced-rank (Eizan Etsuya)
Enhanced Sense of taste, Divine-rank (Erina Nakiri)
Medicinal Cuisine Advanced-rank (Hisako Arato)
Tōtsuki Equity 10% (Senzaemon Nakiri)
Divine Physique, divine-rank/dasabled (Gin Dojima)
[Host: Eishi Tsukasa]
[Current State: Fully Loaded.]
[FP Gained from Sign-ins: 2,500]
Eishi looked back at the castle on the hill. The fluorescent lights were flickering on in the kitchens he once commanded.
He was no longer the White Knight of Central. He was a walking encyclopedia of culinary destruction, a man who possessed the tradition of the old guard and the fire of the new.
"Azami," Eishi said, a dark, predatory smirk playing on his lips as he boarded the train to Tokyo. "You should have kept me on the leash. Because now? I'm going to eat your world alive."
The train doors hissed shut, and for the first time in his life, Eishi Tsukasa didn't feel anxious. He felt hungry.